The one-day Conference is being organized alongside the inaugural edition of International Security National Resilience (ISNR) Abu Dhabi Exhibition from March 2-5 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Centre (ADNEC) under the patronage of HH General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of UAE Armed Forces.

The Conference is being organized by the Dubai-based Institute of Near East and Gulf for Military Analysis (INEGMA), in cooperation with Reed Exhibitions Middle East and UAE's Ministry of Interior.

INEGMA Co-founder and CEO Riad Kahwaji said the Conference is expected to be attended by up to 300 delegates and more than 100 managers of industrial and security companies. The speakers at the Conference "Will provide valuable studies and present feasible solutions for challenges such as maintaining security and safety in multinational environments, security preparedness for big events such as the Olympics, the balance between security requirements and human rights, use of technology in enhancement of ports and airports security, cyber terrorism and its social and economic consequences," Kahwaji said.

"The ISNR Conference aims to present delegates and participants with a comprehensive overview of threats and challenges for homeland security and the best and most effective ways to tackle them. The conference will be an opportunity for delegates and participants to hear from leading security figures who will share their field experience, case studies, research papers and the use of advanced technology in the field of security and resilience," Kahwaji said.

Highlighting the importance of this event for the region, Kahwaji said: "It is generally acknowledged that the biggest man-made threat to security comes from terrorism, which has its own variations. There are those gun-totting individuals and groups who believe in violence against people, institutions and vital installations, and there are those who indulge in cyber crimes to wreck countries and institutions. We at INEGMA believe that ISNR Abu Dhabi will bring together the people, ideas, technologies and systems that are geared to combat all kinds of threats to security and resilience."

Highlighting the role and support of UAE's Ministry of Interior, Brigadier Mattar Al Nayadi, chairman of ISNR Abu Dhabi Organizing Committee, said: "We believe that this exhibition and conference will bring tremendous benefits for those engaged in homeland security tasks, such as border and transport security, counter terrorism, critical infrastructure protection, crisis management and resilience, intelligence and threat assessment, and emergency preparedness and response."

Brigadier Al Nayadi said the UAE's growing number of residents and visitors bore testimony to the safe and secure atmosphere in the country. The Gulf in general, and the UAE in particular, continue to attract millions of people who want to work and live here "comfortably and without fear". Despite the presence of a large foreign population, the UAE has managed to set new standards in homeland security and implemented very effective and transparent security systems and procedures, he added.

"The UAE is a great example because our security and safety agencies such as the police, the civil defense, the armed forces, border and immigration officials, and road patrols operate in a very professional manner that respects the human rights of all people, treating every individual as an asset for the country. In the business of maintaining security, people's support is an important factor. I believe that the UAE security and safety bodies have won the hearts and minds of citizens and residents who will readily acknowledge that the new security measures that we put in place, often using advanced technology, are aimed at protecting life and property. The UAE has been one of the first countries in the region to adopt advanced technologies such as the iris eye scan and finger scan and the national identity card, which are primarily aimed at enhancing people's safety and security", Brigadier Al-Nayadi said.

Mohamad Nabhani, ISNR Abu Dhabi show manager, emphasized the growing importance of the homeland security market in the region. "A study commissioned by Reed Exhibitions has concluded that the Middle East security market will be worth over AED 7.7 billion this year and will grow over 50 per cent to reach AED 11.8 billion by 2013. This figure was just over AED 2.9 billion a decade ago," he said.

Nabhani said over 80 per cent of the 13,000 sq metres in exhibit space has been booked by more than 130 local, regional and international security companies. Global players including EADS, Thales, Sagem, Allen-Vanguard, Britten-Norman and Plextek, Honeywell, IBCOL, IGG, Denel, Gunnebo, Bachmann, Zenon, Escape, Dallmeier, ADCOM, MP3 International, Nabooda, EAE, Advanced Integrated Systems, Avon Protection, Dascam Consulting and the Al Hamra Group have confirmed their participation at the show.

ISNR Abu Dhabi is the second leg in the ISNR series and follows ISNR London which was held 4-5 December 2007 at the National Hall, Olympia, London. Besides the exhibition ISNR Conference, the event will also consist of workshops by companies that specialize in high-end security technology, systems and services.

ISNR Abu Dhabi incorporates the former Security and Safety Middle East, Infosecurity and APTS (Airport, Port & Transport Security) Middle East exhibitions.